Tabulating machine



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, E. M. LA BOITEAUX TABULATING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1924 11Sheets-Sheet 1 an an;

1 ENTOIL yaw Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES EUGENE M. LA BOI'IEAUX, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA.

TABULATING MACHINE.

Application filed March 1, 1924. Serial No. 696,235.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE M. LA BOITEAUX, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tabulating Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tabulating machines.

The invention more particularly relates to a machine or apparatus of theabove character, adapted to be employed for recording or accumulatingand recording the results of numbers represented by perforations inrecord cards of the type commonly used in connection with systems ofmechanical tabulation.

The general object of the invention is to provide a machine or apparatusof the type referred to which will operate in an exceedingly eflicientmanner for accomplishing the purposes of the invention.

It is also an object of the invention that the different unitscomprising the machine orapparatus be arranged in an exceedingly compactmanner.

A still further object of the invention is that the units employed inthe machine or apparatus be interconnected to operate jointly in apositive manner.

It is a further and important object of the invention that theelectrical circuits employed in connection with the apparatus foroperating (lilferent units or devices be established positively andthereby to insure that the apparatus as a whole operates accurately.

It is a still further object of the invention that no burning ofcontacts can occur in establishing the difi'erent-electrical circuitsreferred to.

Other objects, and objects relating to details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in adetailed description to follow.

Like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the differentviews in the drawings.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in

which:

Figure 1 IS a vertical sectlonal view taken substantially on' the line1--1 of Figure 2,-- and'having parts of the indexing mechanism removedto more clearly illustrate certain features of the invention; 1!

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the indexing mechanism andthe associated card feeding and card receiving mechanisms Figure 3 is aschematic view showing the co-acting elements employed in connectionwith the card indexing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective View illustrating theelectromagnetically controlled device employed for discontinuing thefeeding of record cards to the indexing mechanism;

Figure 5 is a detailed view in side elcvation illustrating theelectrical circuit breaker employed in connection with the card feedingmechanism;

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines 6-6and 77 respectively of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the index finger unit andillustrating the manner in which the same is pivotally supported;

Figure 9 1s a top plan View of the index finger unit;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line10-10 of Figure 2, and also illustrating a portion of the index fingerunit operationally positioned with respect to the trip lever unit of theindexing mechanism;

Figure 11 is a group view illustrating different views. of primarycounter members used in connection with the counter mecha nism, and alsothe elements for connecting these counter members with the countershaft;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 and illustrating the secondaryor accumulative counter members, together with elements for connectingthe same to the counter shaft;

Figure 13 is a detailed perspective view of a transfer member or unitemployed 1n connection with each of the primary counter members;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 and showing the transfer memberor unit employed in connection with each secondary or accumulativecounter member;

Figures 15 and 16 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines15-15 and I616 respectively of Figure 17;

Figure 17 is a. partial front elevation of the counter mechanism;

Figure .18 is a schematic representatlon of a portion of the countermechanism, the printing apparatus-associated therewith, together withthe immediate operating means employed therewith; and

Figure, 19 is a detail view in side elevation showing the pawl andratchet means for operating the printing frame.

v Figure 20 is a top plane view of the counter and printing mechanism,the record carrying door being shown partly open.

In carrying out the resent invention there is employed an in exingmechanism which will operate to establish an electrical circuit upon anycard being operated upon presenting an index point to said mechanism.The indexing mechanism has connected therewith a counter-mechanismwhereby the number represented by each index point is registered andthis operation is followed by an operation for totalling and registeringthe index points brought into registration by the indexing mechanism.Also operating in conjunction with the counter mechanism is a printingapparatus whereby the resultant numbers registered upon the countermechanism may be transferred to a record sheet. Means are furtherprovided whereby the printing operation is followed by the return of thedifferent counters employed to their non-registering or non-recordingposition. dex mechanism has immediately associated therewith a suitablecard feeding mechanism or apparatus whereby record cards may besuccessively fed to the indexing mechanism, and also provided for theindexing mechanism is a suitable card receiving apparatus. The indexingmechanism, the card feeding mechanism, and the card receiving mechanismare closely associated and consequently are supported by the one housing10 (Figs. 1 and 2).

First describing the indexingmechanism the same may constitute a tablegenerally designated by the reference numeral 11, together with suitablerollers 12 for moving cards over the table. The rollers should be such adistance apart that they will only engage the edges of the cards andthereby permit s ace between the rollers for the indexing ngers. Asshown in Figure 1, two pairs of rollers 12 are provided for en agingeach edge of a card. The upper rollers 12 of each pair occurring uponone side of the indexing mechanism are interconnected as at 13, and saidconnection being adjustable whereby to permit the desired pressure ofthe top rollers upon the cards. Any suitable flexible and adjustableconnection to accomplish this purpose may be provided similar to thatshown 1n Figure 1.

Above the rollers there is positioned the finger index unit comprising aframe 14 which is rectangular in shape and which is supported forswinging movement by a shaft The in- 15, said shaft being supported bythe housing 10. The rear side of the frame may be provided with a sleeve16 and in said sleeve there is slidable a pair of elongated pins 17,each pin having its one end projecting from the sleeve 16 and thisprojected end adapted to seat in a socket 18 carried by the housing 10.The inner end of each pin 17 carries a laterally extending knob 19, andbetween the inner ends of pins 17 there is positioned a suitablecompression spring 20 and, as is obvious, the pins 17 may be manipulatedto lock or release the frame 14.

Within the frame 14 there is secured the index finger housing, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 24. The frame 14 carries a bottomplate member 22 Fig. 10) which has its forward edge beveled as at 23.The housing 24 supports a plurality of index fingers 25. Each finger 25is in the form of a bar having its one end formed with a downwardlyextending and pointed portion 26. These bars are pivotally supported bya rod 27 carried by the housing 24. For each index finger 25 there isprovided a release member 28 (Fig. 7), said re lease members beingfulcrumed by a rod 29, and said rod being supported by housing 24. Theone end of the frame 14 is open as shown to advantage in Figures 6 and7. Be: tween each release member 28 and its associated index finger 25,there is extended a coil spring 31, said coil spring being connected atits one end to its associated re lease member 28 at a point above thefulcrum of said release member and connected at its other end to therearend of the associated index finger 25. With the release members 28arranged as illustrated in Figure 7, the index fingers 25 may be held ininoperative position. Upon swinging the upper ends of the releasemembers 28 outwardly, with respect to the housing 24 the index fingers25 may be released. The releasing of the index fingers 25 may be donemanually.

The housing 24 within the frame 14 is provided with a longitudinalgroove 32, in

Which there is positioned a block of insulating material '33 carryingthe contact fingers 34 and 35. These contact fingers are also shown inFigure 5. Beneath the contact finger 35 and adjacent its free end thereis arranged a plunger 36, said plun er carrying at its upper end a head37 w ich is of insulating material, and which is adapted to enga e withthe fin er 35 when moved upward y and lift said finger to bring the sameinto contact with the finger 34. The purpose of this electrical circuitestablishmg device will later be described.

Referring'to Figure 10, the table 11 of the indexin mechanism isprovided with a plurality o transverse grooves 38, one for each of theindex fingers 25. Within each of the grooves 38 there is disposed atrigger bar 39. The trigger bars 39 are fulcrumed by a rod 40, said rodbeing supported by the table 11. Stop rods 41 and 42 supported by thetable 11 serve to limit the rocking movement of the trigger bars 39.Each trigger bar 39 is formed at a point intermediate its ends with adownwardly extending protru sion 43, to which there is connected the oneend of a link 44, the other end of said link being connected to a coilspring 45 which is anchored to an angle bar 46 carried by the table 11.Forward to each of the trigger bars 39 there is positioned a bell cranklever 47, said bell crank levers being tulcrumed by a rod 48 which issupported by table 11. Each bell crank lever 47 has an upwardlyextending arm 49, the upper end of which is adapted to be brought toengage the associated trigger bar 39, as illustrated to advantage inFigure 10. Also each bellcrank lever 47 is provided with a suitable lug50, and between this lug'and an angle bar 51 carried by the table 11there is connected a coil spring 52. Forward to the bell crank levers 47occurs a shaft 53 which carries a pair-of the rollers 12, andintermediate this pair of rollers there is mounted upon this shaft a cam54, the raised portion 55 of which is adapted to engage with the freeend of an arm 56 formed upon each of the bell crank levers 47. With therotation of the shaft 53, in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure10,. the raised portion 55 of the cam 54 will bring the bell cranklevers to the position illustrated; that is, to the position forengaging the trigger bars 39. Each, bell crank lever 47 is provided withan arm 57, said arm 57 of alternate bell crank levers extendingdownwardly, while the others extend horizontally, as shown. Each arm 57carries at its free end ablock of insulating material 58. For each ofthe downwardly extending arms 57 of the bell crank levers 47 there isprovided an electrical circuit contact maker 59 which comprises a pairof resilient fingers 60 normally adapted to establish an electricalcircuit. (l ne of said fingers is extended as at 61 and adapted to beengaged by the associated contact arm 57. The 57 of each of theremaining bell crank levers 47 is adapted to operate an electricalcircuit contact maker 62, said contact maker comprising a pair ofresilient fingers 63, likewise adapted to establish normally anelectrical circuit, and one of said fingers being extended and adaptedto be engaged by the arm 57 of the asso iated bell crank lever 47.

Referring to Figure 3, 64 indicates a shaft which carries a cam 65. At66 there is shown a lever which is pivoted, as at 67, for swingmovement.The lever 66 is formed with protrusion .68, which is adapted to rideupon periphery of the cam 65. The

lever 66 is normally held in engagement with the cam 65 by a spring 69.At 70 there is illustrated a contact making device comprising the tworesilient fingers 71, which normally are adapted to close an electricalcircuit, as shown, and when one finger engaged by the free end of thelever 66, the same will be separated to break said electrical circuit.As further illustrated in this figure, the contact making devices orunits are connected in series with the contact making device 62, andthis is also true in connection with the contact makers 59. With thisarrangement the main electrical circuit may be broken by the contactmaking device 70 previous to operating any of the contact making devices59 or 62, and thereby to prevent sparking in the operation of the lastnamed contact making devices.

The card. feeding mechanism may comprise a suitable hopper 72 in whichrecord cards 7 3 may be stacked, as shown in Figure 1. The hopper isprovided with a bottom 74 upon which the cards normally rest, and at theforward end of the hopper there is formed a slot 75 through which cardsmay be singly projected to en age with the adjacent rollers 12 ot' theindexing mechanism previously described. The forward end of the hopperbottom 74 is recessed to receive drums 76, said drums each carryingprotrusions 7 8 arranged in spacedrelation around the peripheriesthereof, and said protrusions being adapted to engage with the forwardedges of the cards '73 and singly eject the cards from the hopper 72through the slot 75,

At one end of the table 11 there is pivotally supported what may betermed a no card index finger or lever 7 9 best shown in Figure 6 of thedrawings. The finger 79 is positioned so that the same will notinterfere with the operation of any or" the index fingers 25. The finger79 is pivoted at its one end to permit free swinging movementthereoih-and adjacent its free end terminates in a straight portion 80which is greater in length than the space between any two successivecards being fed through the indexing mechanism. through the indexingmechanism pass over the finger 79 and beneath the bottom 22 of the frame14. This bottom. 22 is provided with a suitable slot 81 to permit upwardmovement of the free end of the finger 7 9 and thereby to allow thisfinger to engage with the plunger 36 and elevate the same for bringingtogether the contact fingers 34 and The passage of the card through theindexing mechanism depresses the finger 79 and thus permits the plunger36 to move downwardly and the contact finger 35 to move away from thecontact finger 34.

The member 79 when depressed is adapted to engage a plunger 39 (Fig. 3)and de- The cards being fed press said plunger, which, in turn, engagesa plate 40 extending radially from a rocker shaft 41'. The shaft 41 isnormally held by spring 42 for bringing the plate 40 into engagingrelation with the arm 49 of the bell crank levers 47 and to'hold ormaintain the same in position for engaging the trigger members 39, asillustrated in Figure 10. Each bell crank lever 47 has its arm 49recessed, as at 43, and said recesses being adapted to permit the plate40' to assume the position shown in Figure 10 when depressed by theplunger 39, and thus permit tripping of the bell crank levers 47.

The contact fingers 34 and are adapted to open and close an electricalcircuit through the electromagnet 82 (Fig. 4). The electromagnet 82 ispositioned at one side of the hopper 72. Immediately beneath the hopper72 there is rockably supported a shaft 83 carrying a plurality ofradially extending fingers 84 which are adapted with rocking movement ofthe shaft 83 in one direction to engage with the forward edges of thecards 73 and elevate the same out of contacting relation with the drums76. The

shaft 83 has secured to its one end a lever bar 85 which protrudes fromthe apparatus so that the same may be manually depressed. The bar 85 isurged upwardly by a spring 86. The electromagnet 82 carries a supportingmember 87 of non-magnetic material, Which is formed with a pair of ears88 adjacent its lower end whereby to support pivotally a latch member89. The lower end of the latch member 89 has connected thereto one endof a coil spring 90, the other end of said coil spring being anchored,as shown, and said spring being adapted to draw the latch away from theelectromagnet 82. The bar 85 carries a lateral projection 91 which isadapted to be brought to engage with the latch member 89 and thereby tohold the bar 85 depressed. Upon energizing the electromagnet 82, as isobvious, the latch member 89 will be drawn inwardly and thereby torelease the arm 85 and permit the fingers 84 to be swung upwardly forlifting the forward edges of the cards 7 3.

The drum 76 may be driven by a power shaft 92, and this power shaft maybe utilized for driving the rollers 12 of the indexing mechanism throughany suitable gearing arrangement. Preferably the lower rollers 12 of theindexing mechanism are driven through the gear wheel 93 carried by theshaft 92 and the gear wheel 94 meshing therewith, which in turn mesheswith gears carried by shafts supporting the lower rollers, asillustrated in Figure 1. The upper rollers may be suitably connected bygears with the shafts driving the lower rollers.

The card receiving mechanism may com-v prise a pair of bottom rollers 95and a pair of top' rollers 96. These rollers may be driven in anydesirable manner from the power shaft 92 and the top rollers arepreferably carried by arms 97 which are 'fulcrumed, as at 98. The arms97 may be urged by a spring 99 to swing the rollers 96 into contact withthe rollers 95. Skids 100 are provided to guide the cards passingbetween the rollers 95 and 96.

A receiving hopper 101 is provided, said hopper having its bottom 102terminating in spaced relation to the rear of wall 103 of said hopper,and said wall 103 being slightly cut away at its lower end to permit theentrance of cards into the hopper. The forward edge of the bottom 102 isbeveled, as as 10, and this bottom is slightly less in width than arecord card, as shown in Figure 1. The rollers 95 and 96 cooperate withthe skids 100 to bring the cards partially into the hopper. The disposalof the skids 100 causes the forward edge of each card entering thehopper to engage the beveled edge 104 of bottom 102, and thus insurethat such card must pass beneath the lowermost of the cards which may bein the hopper. In order to move each of the cards fuly into the hopper101 there is provided a frame 105, which carries an arm 106 connected toan eccentric 10'? on a shaft 108 by means of an eccentric strap 109 andconnecting rod 110. The lower end of this frame 105 is pivotallyconnected to the free end of arm 111 of a bell crank lever 112, saidbell crank lever having its remaining arm 113 provided with a roller 114adapted to engage upon the peripheral surface of a cam 115 carried by ashaft 116. The shaft 116 may be driven from the power shaft 92 throughthe ar 94 in suitable timed relation, and the roller 114 may be held inengagement with the peripheral surface of the cam 115 by a suitable coilspring 117. The upper end of the frame 105 is provided with a shoe 118which has an upper arcuate shaped surface, and adjacent one end of thissurface there is provided a protrusion 119. Upon the frame 105 beingoscillated by the mechanism described the protrusion 119 thereof willengage with the edge of the card partially within the hopper 101 andmove the same entirely within said hopper. This operation insures anorderly arrangement of the record cards in the hopper.

Referring to Figures 11 to 17, inclusive, in which the countingmechanism of the present invention is disclosed, 120 indicates asupporting plate which may be carried by any suitable frame work, andwhich is formed centrally and longitudinally with a laterally extendingflange 121. The plate 120 carries a plurality of electromagnets 122, onefor each of the trip levers 39. Each electromagnet 122 is electricallyconnected so that a circuit may be established therethrough by a.contact maker 59 or a contact maker 62. As before described, thesecircuits may be all broken by the contact I maker. 70.

Each of the electromagnets 122 carries a supporting member 123 ofnon-magnetic material upon its forward face, and to the upper end ofeach member 123 there is pivotally connected an armature or latch member124. Each latch member terminates at its lower end in a tooth projection125. Forward tothe member 120 there is rotatably supported a shaftj126which may be termed the counter shaft. The shaft 126 carries a pluralityof primary counter members 127 and a plurality of secondary countermembers, or what might be termed accumulative counter members or discs128. The construction of the primary and secondary counter members isspecifically shown in Figures 11 and 12, respectively. Each primarycounter member comprises a hub portion 129 which is in the form of asleeve, and at one end of this sleeve there is secured a. disc or typewheel 130 which carries type numbers upon the periphery thereof. Thesenumbers read from 1 to 9, inclusive, in successive order, and betweenthe numbers 1 and 9 occurs a cipher. The disc 130 in each instance hasan opening adapted to accommodate the shaft 126 (Fig.17), and upon theouter face of each disc there is secured a plate 131 which is formedwith .a tooth 132, preferably of the shape shown. Each sleeve 129 isalso formed with a series of circumferentially arranged teeth 133, whichoccur adjacent the disc 130. Also each sleeve 129 carries a toothed disc134 which is removable and provided with a suitable opening whereby toreceive the counter shaft 126. Within each sleeve 129 there ispositioned a plurality of friction discs 135 which are splined to thesleeve as shown. Between alternate discs 135 there is positionedfriction discs 136, which are splined to the shaft 126. A compressionspring 137 is held by toothed disc 134 to press against the discs 135and 136- by the toothed disc 134. Preferably the friction discs 135 and136 are made of different materials such as hard fibre and springtempered steel. Also the friction discsshould be provided with openingsas shown, whereby to permit distribution of lubricant therebetween. Eachof the secondary counter discs 128 has secured to one side thereof aplate 138 which is similar to the plate 131 secured to the primarycounter members, and which is also formed with a curved tooth 139.Suitable friction discs- 140 and 141, together with a spring 142, areemployed in connection with each of the counter discs 128 for the samepurpose as the friction discs 135 and 1-36 and spring 137 described forthe primary counter members. Also each member 128 has secured thereto atooth wheel or disc 143 which places the spring 142 under tension.

Above the shaft 126 there occurs a fixed shaft 144' which carries aplurality of transfer members 144, one for each of the primary countermembers 127. As shown to advantage in Figure 13, each transfer membercomprises a sleeve 145 which is adapted to receive the shaft 144'. Thesleeve carries at its one end a bell crank lever 146 which has its arm147 provided with an offset terminal 148. The re maining arm 149 of eachbell crank lever is connected through a spring 150 to the support 151carried by one or more brackets 152. Each member 144 is also providedwith a lug 153 which carries an adjustable set screw 154, which is inalignment with the-hardened inset 155 of the associated latch 124. Eachmember 144 also carries a pawl 155. Each pawl 155 is in alignment andadapted to engage the teeth of disc 134 in Figure 17. A plurality oflevers 157 are provided one for each of the transfer memers 144. Eachlever 157 has its one end pivotally supported by a rod 158. The otherend of each lever has pivotally con nected thereto the one end of alifter 159. The shaft 156 carries a cam 160 for each of the levers 157and these cams are ar ranged so that the lifting action thereof upon thelevers 157 will occur successively. Each lifter 159 is connected to anangle iron 161 by a spring 162.. The angle member 161 is provided withslots in its portion 163 which permit movement of the levers 159. Alsoin each slot there is supported a roller 164. The inner edge of eachlifter member 159 is of such formation that upon a predetermined upwardmovement thereof the same will be urged outwardly by the associatedroller 164. Each of the members 144 carries a spring finger 165, andnormally the inner edge of each lifter 159 is adapted to engage with thefree end of the associated spring finger 165.

As previously described there is provided counter member by a spring166, said springs being adjustably anchored by the screw bolts 167, asshown to advantage in Figures 15, 16 and 17. Also it should be herementioned that each lever 157 is urged downwardly by a coil spring 168.

With respect to the secondary counter members or accumulative countermembers, the same are. positioned upon the counter shaft 126 in anobvious manner, and between each adjacent pair of the counter discs 128there is movable a transfer member 169. Each transfer member 169 may bein the form of a bell 'crank lever having its one arm or prong 170formed with an offset terminal 171 which is of such formation and shapethat the same will be disposed in the path of tooth 139 of oneadjacentdisc and also engage the toothed disc 143 of the other adjacentdisc 128. A

- second arm 172 of each transfer member 169 is in alignment with-thetoothed disc 143 engaged by the arm 170. Each trans fer member isfurther provided with an arm 173 to which there. is connected a suitablespring 169 whereby to urge the arm 147 into its engaging position withthe asso* ciated toothed disc 143.

Referring to Figure 18, it will be seen that the counter mechanism hasits counter shaft 126 connected through suitable gears to a shaft 175.It should be here mentioned that any number of thesecounter shafts 126may be provided in order to increase the capacity of the countingmechanism; that is to say, each counter shaft 126 would carry a requirednumber of primary counter members and also a required number ofsecondary or accumulative counter members for registering or recordingthe index points upon a certain number of divisions of a card. Thelowermost shaft 175 is shown specifically in order to illustrate themanner in which this shaft can be con nected to the counter shaft 126for driving the same in either direction. It is, of

' course, to be understood that the shafts 17 5 are connected in propertimed relation to the drive shaft 92 of the card feeding mechanismpreviously described. The shaft 175 has loosely mounted thereon a sleeve176 which carries at its one end a plate member 177. The shaft 175projects through this plate member and adjacent its end is formed withgear teeth 178. A pinion carrier 179 is provided and supports a pair ofpinions 180. This pinion carrier is secured to the plate 177 and aboutthe pinion carrier there is positioned a combination gear wheel 181.wheel 181 is suitably held in position by the washers and screws shownto the right thereof in Figure 18. The combination gear 181 meshes witha suitable. gear car- The combination gear.

ried b the counter shaft 126. The other end 0 the sleeve 176 has securedthereto a collar extension 182, which turnably supports a pin 183, saidpin being yieldably held against rotation by a torsional spring 184. Thepin 183 carries a radially extending arm 185 and also this pin is formedwith a recess 186, which will permit the passage of a detent 187 carriedby the shaft 175 when the pin 183 is rotated to a certain position.

A spindle or shaft 188 is suitably mounted in the position shown andcarries a plu' rality of interference arms 189, one for each of theshafts 175, and adapted to engage with the projections 185 of the pins183 when rotated a certain degree. The shaft 188 may have connectedthereto a suitable connecting link for rotating the same against thetension of a spring 191. The spring 191 will, of course, at all timesreturn the shaft 188 to its non-interfering position when said shaft isreleased. The mechanism described permits rotation of the counter shaft126 in either direction and the exact manner in which this operationtakes place will be later explained.

A shaft or spindle 192 is suitably supported for rotative movement, andthis shaft carries at each end an eccentric 193 about Which there ispositioned a collar or strap 194 carried by a door frame generallyindicated by the reference character 195. This door frame is adapted tobe swung upon the eccentrics 193 to a position so that its free end maybe brought into engaging relation with the latch members 196. The doorframe carries at its upper free end a rotatable stub shaft 197' wherebyto permit an engaging relation with a hook 198 carried by the associatedlatch 196. The lower and free end of the door frame supports a fixedengaging member 199, which may be brought into position for engaging ahook 200 carried by the lower latch 196. The hooks 198 and 200 are ofsuch construction that a biased movement of the door frame is permittedafter the same has been brought into engaging relation therewith. Thisbiased movement of the door frame occurs upon the spindle 192 beingrotated in a predetermined direction after the door frame has beenbrought to its closed position. The spindle or shaft 192 may be rotatedthrough a rack 201 and pinion 202. The rack terminates at its one end inhead 203 which is loosely mounted upon a rod 204 and which is rigidlyheld against movement in one direction by a collar 205 and rotating thespindle 192 to obtain the biased movement for locking the door frame195. The rod 204, together with the bar 190, may be operated by anysuitable means which can be utilized to reciprocate these mem bers atthe proper intervals and degree in order to carry out the completeoperation of the apparatus hereinafter to be described.

The door frame 195 carries a record sheet supporting frame 208 which isvertically movable and which includes a pair of rack bars 209 adapted tobe moved by pini-ons 210.

Upon the spindle 192 there is slidable a sleeve 206'. A double faced cammember 207 is rigidly secured to the spindle 192 and adapted tocooperate with pins 205' for elvating the sleeve 206 upon rotation ofthe shaft or spindle 192 in one direction. A collar 208 is splined tothe shaft or spindle 192, and above this collar there is positioned acompression spring 210' which is adjustably held against upward movementby a collar 212. The collar 208 has an annular groove, the bottomthereof corresponding in curvature to the eccentrics 193. in this groovethere is positioned a roller which is turnably connected to a ratchetarm 211, said ratchet arm being connected for rotating the pinions 210upon the collar 208 moving downwardly through the cooperating pawl andratchets shown in Figure 19. The pawl 200 rotates the pinions 210 andpawl 201 retains the racks 209 in adjusted position. A hand lever 211 isprovided whereby to bring the pawls 200 and 201 into non-operativeposition and thus permit free movement of the rack bars 209, Figure 19.

The frame 208 may' have any suitable means for supporting a record sheet211 which is disposed forward to a platen 212.

(Due or more of these platens may be arranged upon the frame 208,depending upon the number of counter sets orgroups employed, and betweeneach platen and the associated counter set there is interposed a ribbon213. This ribbon is extended between the reels 214 and each reel isremovably secured to a gear wheel 215'supported by a bracket arm 216.Each gear wheel 215 is in mesh with a gear wheel 217 carried upon asleeve 218, said sleeve having turnably disposed therein a shaft 219.The sleeves 218 are connected to each other through the connecting rod220 and pinions 221. Each gear 217 is loose upon the associated sleeve218 and each gear carries an upstanding pin 222, which is adapted to beengaged by a radially extending pin 223 carried by the associated shaft219 whereby to connect the sleeves 218 with the gears 217. As is obviouswith this construction, upon either of the shafts 219 being elevated thegears 217 would be disconnected from the associated sleeve 218. Suitableslots in sleeves 218 permit the upward movement of pins 223. A'controlbar 224 is fulcrumed to a suitable support, as at 225, and this bar isdisposed between the spindles or shafts 219 and adapted to engage thesame in the manner illustrated in Figure 18. As is entirely apparentfrom this arrangement, the gears 217 carried by one of the sleeves 218may be disconnected therefrom while the same gears of the other sleeveremain connected thereto. The purpose of this construction is to changeor reverse the rotation of the reels 214: and thus to change thedirection of feed of the ribbon carried by said reels.

Une of the sleeves 218, as shown in Figure 18, is connected throughgears 226 and 227 with the shaft or spindle 188. The gear 227 is looseupon the shaft 188 and through the pawl and ratchet means shown, will berotated with said shaft when movement of the shaft occurs in onedirection and thus to impart intermittent movement in one direction tothe sleeve 218 carrying the gear 226.

Previous to the description of the general operation of the presentapparatus it might be stated that the difierent mechanisms described areall interconnected and driven by the shaft 92. The shaft 108, as well asthe rollers 96 and 95, shafts 64c and 175 are all connected throughsuitable gears for being rotated in the proper ratios and timed relationin order to carry out the different operations of the apparatus.

Let it be assumed that the apparatus is assembled and connected, asheretofore described, and record cards deposited in the hopper 7 2 inthe manner shown in Figure 1. Each record card, as illustrated in Figure2, has a plurality of division lines extending transversely thereof, andeach space provided by the division lines is divided into a plurality ofcolumns. The cards are fed transversely through the indexing apparatus.Upon starting rotation of the shaft 92 the drum 76 will feed cards 73singly to the indexing mechanism. Cards are illustrated in Figures 10and 2 when passing over the table 11 and beneath the index fingers 25.lit (is necessary before starting the machine in operation to set thenumber of index fingers 25 required; that is, an index finger 25 isrequired for each column of the different divisions of a card to betabulated. These index fingers can be released by tripping the releasemembers 28 in the manner heretofore described. The shaft 53 rotatingwill set the bell crank levers 47 for engaging the trigger bars 39. Asthe cards pass beneath the index fingers 25, upon a perforationoccurring in a column and coming into register with an index finger, theindex finger will promptly trip the associated trigger bar 39 and thusin turn trip a bell crank lever 47, which will establish an electriccircuit through one of the electromagnets 122. As a card passes beneaththe index fingers 25 a number of these fingers may operate for trippingdifferent trigger bars 39, depending upon the perforatlons in thedifferent columns of the card. Each column of any division on a cardcontains the nine digits, and these digits occur in their successiveorder. The columns are arranged so that the aligned numberslongitudinally-of the card may indicate the uni-ts, tenths, hundredths,thousandths, etc. Each card is advanced so that the number 9 in eachcolumn will first come beneath the index fingers 25. The moment that anindex finger 25 enters a perforation the electric circuit heretoforedescribed is established, and this circuit is maintained until the cardpasses its operative positions beneath said finger, at which. moment thecam 65 operates to discontinue the current through the different contactmakers 62 and 59, and also through the electromagnets 122, whosecircuits are established by these contact makers.

The counter shaft 126 is continuously rotating and upon an electromagnet122 being energized the same will draw its latch or armature 124 fromengagement with the primary counter member 127 and permit-the same torotate. The registering position for any numeral carried by the countermembers, either primary or secondary, occurs when such numeral isbrought into alignment with the platen 212. When a latch 124 is operatedto release a primary counter member the same is drawn against thetension of its associated spring 166. The counter member released will.of course, rotate ,with the counter shaft as long as the associ atedelectromagnet 122 is energized. This time or interval as before stated,is controlled by the position of the punch in a column of a record card,and therefore this position of the punch will determine the amount ofrotation of the counter member and thus enable the proper number,representing the punch, to be brought into registering position by thecounter member. The operation described is thesame for each of theperforations presented by a card to the index fingers 25.

It may be well here to state that the finger 79 is readily depressedwhen cards move thereover, whereby to permit the electric circuitthrough the electromagnet 82 to open and thereby, with the operatordrawing down upon the hand lever 85 carried by the rocker shaft 83, thefingers 84 can be brought to their non-operative position. In startingthe apparatus this lever 85 should be depressed by the operator andsubstantially at the same moment a card will depress the finger 79 andclose the circuit through electromagnet 82 which avoids further holdingdown of the lever 85. Immediately upon an abnormal gap occurring betweensuccessively fed records, the circuit through the electromagnet 82 willbe discontinued and the fingers 84 of rocker shaft 83 will lift the rearedges of the cards 73 and prevent further feeding thereof to theindexing mechanism.

The primary counter members 127 upon each counter shaft are arranged inthe same order as the different columns in the different divisionsof arecord card; that is to say, starting at one end of the counter shaft,the first primary counter member represents units, while the nextrepresents tens, etc. Upon any primary counter member 127 making acomplete rotation, a transfer or carry of the increment one to the nexthigher primary index or type wheel is accomplished. With respect to theprimary counter members 127 the transfer operation is accomplished bythe bell crank levers 144. Upon one of these counter members completinga rotation its tooth 132' is brought to engage and lift the arm 1 17 ofthe associated bell crank lever 144, and thus to bring the spring finger165 of said bell crank lever in the position shown in Figures 15 and 16.These preliminary movements might be termed the set-up operation of thetransfer elements. The shaft 156 is so timed that immediately after arecord card has passed its operative position beneath the index fingers25, the same will raise the lifters 159 and this aetiore'will furtherrotate the bell crank levers'w liieh are set in the position shown inFigures 15 and 16, and cause the set screw 15% to depress the latch 12 1of the next successive counter member and thereby release the same topermit said counter member to rotate with the counter shaft. The amountof rotation is controlled by the finger 155 of the transfer unitoperated; that is, this finger engages with the teeth 134 of the countermember being advanced, and permits of a slight movement thereof. Uponthe shaft 156 rotating a sufficient degree, the spring fingers 165engaged by the lifters 159 will be released and then the transfermembers 1 14; can assume their original position. This operation is truewith respect to each of the primary counter members.

I In connection with the secondary or accumulative counter members thebell crank lever 169 disposed between each adjacent pair of countermembers is first operated upon by the tooth 139 of one of said countermembers and the offset portion 171 is lifted so that the toothed disc 113 of the adjacent disc is released and thus permitting the adjacentdisc to rotate with the counter shaft, carrying or adding the incrementone to the next higher index wheel. This rotation is sufiicient topermit one of the teeth of the disc 143 to clear the offset portion 171upon ae'iaaaa the arm 170 and also clear the tooth 139 upon theactuating disc. The bell crank lever will now assume its initialposition, and in so doing permit-Ha slight additional rotation of thedisc 128 carrying the next higher unit.

The apparatus will operate in the manner heretofore described to recordnumbers of substantially an infinite degree, and when it is desired toknow the total recorded it is only necessary to reciprocate the rack bar201 whereby'to rotate the spindle 192 for moving the frame 195 inwardlyand thereby to cause a printing of thetype numbers in registeringposition upon the record sheet 211. Also immediately upon this printingoperation taking place the downward movement of the sleeve 206' carriedby the spindle 192 causes a spacing of the record sheet 211 with respectto the different count er units. The means heretofore described forholding the different counter members against rotation with respect tothe counter shaft would permit free rotation of said members in -theopposite direction with said counter shaft; that is, each primarycounter member could rotate reversely until its tooth 132 engaged theassociated transfer lever 144, and the same is also true with relationto the counter discs 128. It will be noted that teeth 132 and 139 are soarranged that when brou ht into engagement with the transfer mem%ers 14Aand 169 respectively that all the counter members will be innon-registering position-that is, the ciphers would be in alignment withthe plate 212. In order to accomplish this operation (i. e., to bringthe different counter members to their nonregistering or non-recordingposition,) the shaft 188 is rocked to bring its interference arms 189into engaging relation with the projections 185, and also to rotate thepins 183 whereby to permit the shaft 175 to turn freely within thesleeve 176.

During the preceding interval or while tabulation is progressing saiddrive shaft 175, together with sleeve 176 and its component parts asshown and described, rotate as an integral part of said shaft 175. Thepartial rotation of said pin 183, however, due to interference arm 189,permits aforesaid shaft 175 to turn freely within the collar 184, due tonon-interference between the detent 187 and the pin 183, therebypermitting motion to be transmitted through said shaft 176 to saidcombination gear 181 and to driving gear on counter shaft 128. Pinions180 in this manner function as intermediates in a train of gears andreverse the direction of rotation of the combination gear. 181 andconsequently the direction of rotation of said counter shaft 126. Itwill be understood, of course, that during the reversal interval justdescribed, the collar 184: and sleeve 17 6 have remained stationary, dueto the continued opposition of interference arm 189. Completion of theoscillation cycle of shaft 188 swings the interference arm 189 out ofthe path of arm 185, thus permitting pin 183 to returnto its normalposition, and pinions 180 to again function merely as driving pawls inthe transmission of motion from said shaft 17 5 direct to aforesaid gearon said counter shaft 126, all of which will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art.

It should be here pointed out that with the type disc members or typewheels operated and controlled by electromagnets and latches heretoforedescribed, is of considerable, importance in obtaining speed and ac-'curacy in operation of the machine.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of the combinationand arrangement of the parts of my invention I wish it to be understoodthat I am aware of 3 the fact that the same might be changed by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, asindicated by the appended claims.

What ll claim is:

1. A tabulating machine for record cards, comprising an indexingmechanism adapted to operate successively upon record cards, meanswhereby mechanical elements will be actuated for establishing anelectrical circuit remote from the indexing mechanism foreach index ointpresented by a record card to said in exingmechanism, an individualcounter-unit for each index column upon a card, means forinterconnecting the individual counter-units whereby the resultsrecorded by said units may be accumulative, and separate accumulativecounter-units interconnected to the first-named counter-units whereby toenable any degree of recordation by said counter-units.

2. A tabulating machine for record cards, comprising an indexingmechanism adapted to operate successively upon record cards, meanswhereby mechanical elements will be actuated for establishing anelectrical circuit remote from the indexing mechanism for each indexpoint presented by a record card to said indexing mechanism, anindividual counter-unit whereby each index point upon a card may beregistered, means for interconnecting the counter-units whereby theresults recorded by said units may be accumulative, separateaccumulative counter-units interconnected to the first-named.counter-units whereby to enable any degree of recordation by saidcounter-units to be registered, and means whereby the individualcounter-units and also the accumulative counter-units may besimultaneously brought to a non-registering position.

3. A tabulating machine for record cards, comprising an indexingmechanism adapted to operate successively upon record cards, meanswhereby mechanical elements will be

